Bowling ball impeller



vAug. 20, 1963 J. szos'r BOWLING BALL IMPELLER Filed July 14, 1960 IN VEN TOR. /0Se b 52 052 United States Patent 3,191,195 BOWLlNG BALL IMPELLE Joseph Szost, Bowleroo, 2424 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairlield, Conn. Filed .l'uly 14, 196i), er. No. 42,790- 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-49) This invention relates to bowling equipment, and more particularly to the means provided for automatically handling bowling balls, especially the gravity return track for returning them to the bowling position.

Heretofor'e, in order for such track to function properl so as to effect a sufliciently speedy return of the bowling balls a certain minimum declination was necessary. If this declination was not provided the balls would slow down, and if two or more balls for one reason or another came into contact as they were rolling along the gravity track, the engagement of the respective peripheries travelling in opposite directions at the points of engagement would greatly retard the speed of the balls whereby they would become lodged and stalled at some point along the rail or track, and be prevented from proper delivery at the bowling position.

The requirement that a certain minimum declination be provided for the return track of the bowling alley involved an appreciable vertical distance between the start of the track at the pin location and the termination of the track at the bowling position. This presented a distinct disadvantage, and necessitated the provision of special ball handling equipment which would be capable of raising the ball between appreciably different levels. I

By the present invention there is provided a novel and improved ball-impelling device which imparts a greatly increased velocity to the initially rolling ball, thereby obviating the necessity for the return track to have a relatively great pitch or declination. By the use of the present ball impelling means it is possible in most instances to eliminate special elevating or conveying equipment heretofore utilized to transfer the balls between widely spaced (vertical) levels. Instead, the lack of pitch or declination is counteractedby the use of increased velocity which is imparted to the travelling returning balls. By virtue of such increased velocity being obtained with simple and compact equipment there is had the benefit of an appreciable saving of space measured vertically in laying out the return track for the balls, as well as savings being effected by virtue of special elevating or conveying equipment being unnecessary.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bowling ball impelling means adapted to facilitate the return of the balls for re-use, said means being extremely effective and reliable in its operation and imparting a relatively large push or impelling force to travelling return balls, thereby to increase the velocity of the same by an appreciable amount.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bowling ball impelling means in accordance with the foregoing, which is extremely simple in its construction, and which involves relatively few components or parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel bowling ball impelling device as characterized, which is relatively small and employs a compact arrangement whereby it does not require a great deal of space.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved bowling ball impelling means which may be easily and quickly installed on existing ball handling equipment, especially on the return tracks for the balls.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved ball impelling device as above set forth, which is economical to manufacture and produce.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel ball impelling means as outlined, which is troublefree in its operation and requires virtually no servicing except for occasional lubrication.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved ball impelling device which is quiet in its operation, and is particularly virtually noiseless as regards the function of increasing the ball velocity.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, the single FIGURE is a perspective view of the improved ball impelling device.

As shown in the figure, a section of return track, constituting part of the ball handling equipment of a bowling alley, is indicated at 10. The track 10 may comprise in dividual or separate rails 11 and 12 are shown, or it may comprise a one-piece trough or any other equivalent device along which the balls are guided, and on which they roll under the action of gravity.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a novel pusher or ball-impelling device constituted of a continuously rotating wheel or. roller 14, which is arranged above the return track 10 and positioned to engage the uppermost portions of balls passing along the track and under the said wheel. The wheel or roller 14 may be constituted in various ways. It may, for example, be made up of a plurality of separate, relatively thin wheels or else, as illustrated in the drawing, inthe form of a single wheel having an appreciable axial length by which it is more in the nature of a roller.

The wheel 14 is carried on a shaft 16 which extends in a direction transversely of the track 10, and which is disposed just high enough above the track to provide for a firm frictional engagement between the wheel 14 and the bowling balls 18 which pass along the track slowly under the force of gravity.

Preferably, as shown in the drawing, the Wheel 14 has :a hollowed or concave peripheral portion which presents a wide annular groove 20 arnanged to substantially conform to the spherical upper portions of the ball 18. Also, the wheel or roller 14 is preferably constituted of a resilient material or substance, such as resilient rubber,

plastic or other similar rubber-like material by which the wheel is compressed slightly and deformed as the ball 18 rolls underneath it. I also prefer to provide a plurality of substantially axially extending grooves 22 in the peripheral portion of the roller 14 whereby there is effected an anti-skid or non-slip traction tread.

The shaft 16 may be supported in suitable bearings, as is readily understood, and such bearings are not shown herein for the sake of clarity of illustration.

In accordance with the present invention, the roller 14 is continually rotated at high speed, having a direction of turning which is opposite to the direction of turning of the rolling bowling balls 18. Also, in addition to the high speed rotation of the roller. or Wheel 14, there is provided a rapidly rotating member having appreciable mass and momentum, which is connected to turn with the wheel or roller 14 and to prevent the latter from being stopped or appreciably halted upon it becoming engaged with one of the rolling bowling balls 18.

In accomplishing the foregoing in the simplest possible manner the invention provides a continually-energized, driving electric motor 24 having a shaft 26 which is connected to drive the shaft 16. Preferably, as shown, the shafts 26 and 16 are coupled to each other by means of pulleys 28 and 30, and a V-belt 32. The pulleys 28 and 30 may advantageously provide a step-down ratio of speeds; for example the pulley 28 may have a diameter of 3- /2 inches whereas the diameter of the pulley 30 may :be advantageously 5 /2 inches. Also, the electric motor 2-4 is preferably of the squirrel-cage induction type, which normally has a running speed of between 1725 and 1750 rpm. By such organization, the shaft 16 is rotated at a speed which is quite high yet appreciably below the synchronous speed of 1 800 rpm. characteristic of fourpole motors of the synchronous type operating on 60 cycle AC. The motor 24 may be of one-quarter or onethird horsepower, and such motors have fairly heavy squirrel cage armatures or rotors, which, when turning at 1725 r.p.m. have considerable momentum. In the present ball impelling device this appreciable momentum of the rotating rotor of the motor 24 is utilized, in conjunction with the non-slip V-belt drive and peripheral portion of the wheel 14, to prevent any appreciable slowing down or stalling of the wheel 14 while imparting a rapid spin to the balls -18.

The operation of the wheel impelling device may now be readily understood, As the bowling balls 18 slowly roll along the track under the action of gravity they are brought into engagement with and pass under the rotating wheel 14 which is turning at high speed and has connected with it a high speed element of appreciable momentum in the form of the rotor of the motor 24. The nonaskid resilient surface of the wheel 14 will frictionally engage the upper portions of the ball 18, and will impart to the said ball not only a greatly increased horizontal velocity but in addition a fast rate of spin, which as at present understood is accompanied by slippage of the ball on the track 10. Normally, tracks for the return of the bowling balls are made of finished Wood or the like, wherein the friction with respect to the ball is not very appreciable. In consequence of this, together with the horizontal impulse 'or push imparted to the balls by the high-speed non-slip wheel 14, the balls further experience a rapid spin and leave the wheel 14 at a greatly accelerated pace, with appreciably increased velocity.

I have found that by the provision of the present simple and eifec-tiv'e ball impelling device there is eliminated the collecting and stalling of the :balls along the track 10 even though the latter has only a slight amount of declination. Even when a group of balls is fed to the impelling wheel 14, the balls are caused to travel so rapidly as they leave the wheel that there is no likelihood of jamming or collecting of the balls prior to arriving at their destination.

It will be understood that the wheel 14 may be made up as a composite structure. That is, it may have a nonresilient center or hub portion provided with a resilient peripheral non-slip surfacing. Or, as mentioned previously, the Wheel 14 may be constituted of a number of separate relatively thin wheels of different diameters, secured together in any suitable manner by which the concave peripheral portion having the shape of the wide groove 20 is secured.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present ball irnpelling device is extremely simple in its construction, involving relatively few components which may be economically produced and assembled. The device is relatively small and compact, and may be readily installed on existing equipment without difiiculty. Moreover, where continuous-duty bearings are provided which require only occasional lubrication, the device is foolproof 4 in its operation, and does not require appreciable servicing.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. High speed means for imparting added velocity and sliding spin to a rolling, returning bowling ball, thereby to cause it to be more rapidly impelled during its return to the bowling position, comprising in combination a hard-surfaced return track section for balls, along which the balls roll and on which they may readily slip, said return track section being devoid of bends or angular deviations from a straight path; means disposed above said track and engageable with balls rolling along the track in a given direction, causing said balls to rapidly slip on the track with a forward spin while continuing travel thereon in said direction, said means imparting said forward spin to the balls in the same direction as and beyond the rate of turning of the balls prior to engagement by said means, said spin and slippage continuing for an interval after disengagement of the balls by said means, and said means comprising a roller and a shaft carrying the roller for turning about a fixed axis, said roller and shaft being disposed above said track and the roller being arranged to engage along an appreciable arc uppermost portions of the balls passing along the track and under the roller, said roller having a concave anti-slip surface engageable with a large surface of the balls and the latter being under compression between the track and roller during such engagement; and means comprising a motor, driving said roller at a fast rotary speed greater than half the motor speed and in a direction of turning which is opposite to the direction of turning of the balls approaching the roller, for imparting said fast forward spin to the balls to cause the latter to slip on the track while at the same time pushing the balls forward.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the roller is resilient and becomes distorted when in engage meat with the bowling ball.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the roller has a plurality of substantially axially extending grooves disposed in the periphery at the said anti-slip surface.

4. The invention as defined in claim 'l in which there is a high speed rotating element of appreciable weight, connected with the roller to impart an appreciable momentum thereto, said element having a speed of less than twice that of the roller.

I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,207,643 Strong July 9, 1940 2,566,379 Strong Sept. 4, 1951 2,716,973 Desi Sept. 6, 1955 2,796,261 Turner June 18, 1957 2,964,318 Levendoski Dec. 13, 1960 

1. HIGH SPEED MEANS FOR IMPARTING ADDED VELOCITY AND SLIDING SPIN TO A ROLLING, RETURNING BOWLING BALL, THEREBY TO CAUSE IT TO BE MORE RAPIDLY IMPELLED DURING ITS RETURN TO THE BOWLING POSITION, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A HARD-SURFACED RETURN TRACK SECTION FOR BALLS, ALONG WHICH THE BALLS ROLL AND ON WHICH THEY MAY READILY SLIP, SAID RETURN TRACK SECTION BEING DEVOID OF BENDS OR ANGULAR DEVIATIONS FROM A STRAIGHT PATH; MEANS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID TRACK AND ENGAGEABLE WITH BALLS ROLLING ALONG THE TRACK IN A GIVEN DIRECTION, CAUSING SAID BALLS TO RAPIDLY SLIP ON THE TRACK WITH A FORWARD SPIN WHILE CONTINUING TRAVEL THEREON IN SAID DIRECTION, SAID MEANS IMPARTING SAID FORWARD SPIN TO THE BALLS IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS AND BEYOND THE RATE OF TURNING OF THE BALLS PRIOR TO ENGAGEMENT BY SAID MEANS SAID SPIN AND SLIPPAGE CONTINUING FOR AN INTERVAL AFTER DISENGAGEMENT OF THE BALLS BY SAID MEANS, AND SAID MEANS COMPRISING A ROLLER AND A SHAFT CARRYING THE ROLLER FOR TURNING ABOUT A FIXED AXIS, SAID ROLLER AND SHAFT BEING DISPOSED ABOVE SAID TRACK AND THE ROLLER BEING ARRANGED TO ENGAGE ALONG AN APPRECIABLE ARC UPPERMOST PORTIONS OF THE BALLS PASSING ALONG THE TRACK AND UNDER THE ROLLER, SAID ROLLER HAVING A CONCAVE ANTI-SLIP SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH A LARGE SURFACE OF THE BALLS AND THE LATTER BEING UNDER COMPRESSION BETWEEN THE TRACK AND ROLLER DURING SUCH ENGAGEMENT; AND MEANS COMPRISING A MOTOR, DRIVING SAID ROLLER AT A FAST ROTARY SPEED GREATER THAN HALF THE MOTOR SPEED AND IN A DIRECTION OF TURNING WHICH IS OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF TURNING OF THE BALLS APPROACHING THE ROLLER, FOR IMPARTING SAID FAST FORWARD SPIN TO THE BALLS TO CAUSE THE LATTER TO SLIP ON THE TRACK WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PUSHING THE BALLS FORWARD. 